Pain Talk

Unlike localized pain conditions, total body pain is felt throughout the body and can cause additional symptoms such as fatigue, stress and depression. It is often described as mild, moderate or severe, and can be acute, intermittent or long-term (chronic). Today we explore chronic total body pain what drives it and how we can support patients to a functional quality of life.

The post Episode 46: Total Body Pain – “Doc, I have pain everywhere. Can you help me?” first appeared on Pain Talk.

Insomnia is a common sleep problem for adults. The National Institutes of Health estimates that roughly 30 percent of the general population complains of sleep disruption, and approximately 10 percent have associated symptoms of daytime functional impairment consistent with the diagnosis of insomnia. Although many factors contribute to sleep disruption, opioid analgesics, in particular short-acting, are some of the biggest culprits. This week we look at how opioids contribute to sleep disruption and how to avoid the trap of adding sedative-hypnotics to an already high-risk pharmacological soup.

The post Episode 45: Sleep and Opioids – “Doc, can you give me something to sleep” first appeared on Pain Talk.

Dr. Flusk is a pain physician and anesthesiologist practicing in St. John's Newfoundland. He is actively involved in medical education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Today he shares with us his experience as a lead reviewer on the Associations of Faculties of Medicine curriculum development.

The post Episode 44: Developing a Curriculum – Dr. David Flusk first appeared on Pain Talk.

Childkind certification recognizes the commitment of an institution to evidence guided pediatric pain management.  Dr. Allen Finley and Erin Aubrey talk with us this week about what Childkind certification is, how health care institutions can put steps in motion to achieve this recognition, and how health care providers within the institution can come together with a common goal; compassionate pediatric pain management.

The post Episode 43: Childkind Certification – Pain Management in Children first appeared on Pain Talk.

Part 3: Dr. Trudy Taylor is a respected Rheumatologist practicing in Halifax NS. Today we conclude our discussion with Dr. Taylor and our conversation on the management and diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis and what to do when it co-exists with central sensitization or chronic pain.

The post Episode 42: Dr. Trudy Taylor – Part 3 first appeared on Pain Talk.

In this week's podcast, Dr. Taylor helps us break down the challenges of interpreting and using biomarkers to monitor and identify inflammatory arthritis.  A biomarker is a measurable indicator of the severity or presence of some disease state.

The post Episode 41: Dr. Trudy Taylor – Part 2 first appeared on Pain Talk.

Living with inflammatory arthritis and chronic pain can be challenging. Dr. Trudy Taylor, a rheumatologist practicing in Halifax will help us breakdown how these two painful conditions can co-exist and how to improve the quality of life for individuals using pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies.

The post Episode 40: Dr. Trudy Taylor – Part 1 first appeared on Pain Talk.

Today, we welcome back Virginia McIntyre who is someone who knows chronic pain all too well.  This week we want to see how COVID-19 has impacted her life as she navigates a new normal and the challenges of living with chronic pain during a pandemic.  She shares with us some strategies that can help build resiliency during this time of uncertainty and unpredictability.

The post Episode 39: Virginia McIntyre – Chronic Pain and COVID-19 first appeared on Pain Talk.

We cannot change how COVID-19 has impacted our lives, but we can change how we respond to the uncertainty that it creates. We have a choice to focus on how vulnerable we are as a people or to begin the task of building resiliency to the virus and the uncertainty we feel.  Resiliency is our ability to THRIVE in times of change and uncertainty. It is not a natural skill, rather it is something we learn. Today we continue our discussion on how to build resiliency. Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together. Stay strong, stay safe.

The post Episode 38: Chronic Pain and COVID-19 – Part 2 first appeared on Pain Talk.

One of the aspects not often considered when talking about COVID-19 is the impact on people suffering from chronic pain.  Today we're talking about how COVID-19 has impacted the lives of individuals living with Chronic pain, and how to manage the uncertainty to find ways to calm pain.

The post Episode 37: Chronic Pain and COVID-19 – Part 1 first appeared on Pain Talk.